InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time Rift ❯ Time Rift...Chapter Four ( Chapter 4 )

Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Inuyasha or its characters! Where can you find dogs like that anyways?

 

 

Time Rift…by taterbean96

 

 

Chapter Four

 

 

Rin was watching Jaken as he stalked about in a tumultuous state. They were in a clearing of forest that was growing brighter with each passing second, as the dawn's orange and pink streaks chased away the night. Jaken would be near the forests edge one moment, muttering under his breath, the next he'd be pacing around Aun. The staff of two heads never left his hands.

 

“Oh, my Lord Sesshomaru! Where could you be?” he'd ask in his agitated voice.

 

Rin could tell he was torn between running off into the forest to find Lord Sesshomaru and not leaving her, which he'd been strictly ordered not to do.

 

They had known that he'd gone to battle Naraku, that Sesshomaru wasn't going to let Inuyasha own the glory of finishing off that youkai abomination.

 

Rin, even as a small human child, had felt the surge of energy that had erupted and the demonic aura lift, signifying that Naraku had met his end. There was no way that Jaken didn't sense it also.

 

But, what of Lord Sesshomaru?

 

The night had come and gone, Naraku was no more, still, their master hadn't returned.

 

“Surely Naraku didn't get the best of my Lord Sesshomaru!” Jaken called out, to noone in particular. His shrill voice caused Aun and Rin to jump slightly.

 

“Don't worry, Master Jaken, I'm sure Lord Sesshomaru is okay…”

 

Yet, lying across Aun's warm back, watching the warming colors paint the sky, the small girl found she even doubted her words. What would become of her without Lord Sesshomaru? She owed him so much…literally, her life. To Rin, a lifetime in the majestic youkai's service was the least that she could give out of gratitude.

 

He was her protector, her savior. Her heart's desire was to be with him, always. She blinked, realizing that tears were falling, unconsciously, from her big, doe eyes.

 

Rustling in the woods just north of them brought them from their depths of worry about Sesshomaru. Jaken, taking a defensive stance in front of the dual-headed Aun and little Rin, held the staff of two heads, double fisted.

 

Rin couldn't help but feel a small upsurging of love towards the little green youkai as he demonstrated fierce protection for her.

 

The sun wasn't quite high enough yet to expose who, or what, was coming into the clearing towards them. Just a dark outlined figure neared. Jaken lifted his nose, breathing deeply. Permeating the air was the unmistakable smell of corpses…

 

Kikyo stepped into the clearing, clutching a tall staff. Her long raven hair fell in sheets over her shoulders. Jaken slitted his round eyes.

 

“What brings you here, dead miko?” he hissed at her.

 

Kikyo eyed him suspiciously. He wasn't a powerful youkai, definitely no threat to her, she was sure. She did recognize him to be Sesshomaru's faithful lackey. Lifting her gaze, she caught Rin's dark eyes peering from behind one of Aun's necks.

 

“Tell me, little girl, where is your master?” Kikyo's voice was as even and emotionless as ever.

 

Jaken puffed up, his mouth hanging open in slack jawed offense at her blatant disregard of him.

 

“How dare you ignore me!” he yelled at the miko as she went up to Rin.

 

Kikyo continued to ignore the amphibious youkai as she stopped next to Aun, leaning towards Rin.

 

“I..I don't know…” the girl stammered. “…he…he left us here just after dark and hasn't returned…” The child's voice was dripping with concern, her wide eyes were fearful.

 

Kikyo had left the current village she'd been occupying last night and went to search out the upsetting change in demonic aura she'd felt, when she'd chanced upon this clearing. Could Sesshomaru be tangled up in what had happened?

 

She had sensed the destruction of Naraku, but something else had transpired. The Shikon no Tama was no more, of this she was sure, but there was another change. Kikyo had the feeling that time itself had been altered. Her acute powers affirmed to her that a time rift had been invoked…

 

Rin watched the impassive, pale white face of the miko as she turned over what Rin had told her. Lord Sesshomaru had told her that there was no life in this woman; which puzzled Rin. Had Kikyo been resurrected the same way as she had?

 

However she had come to be, Rin had a feeling she was going to have to put her trust in her, whether she was the walking dead or not…

 

Kikyo suddenly smiled at the lost, scared girl. Maybe, Rin thought, it wouldn't be so hard to trust her…she did remind her of Kagome after all…

 

“Would you like to come with me? I could help you find Lord Sesshomaru?” Kikyo asked.

 

Jaken, still twitching with irritation at having been dismissed without even a glance from Kikyo, fired up immediately.

 

“No she will not! She's my responsibility!”

 

Kikyo glanced down at his stubbornly set face with the same smile playing her lips.

 

“Well, you will have to come then. We'll find out what happened to Sesshomaru together.”

 

Jaken, less trusting of the miko, still eyed her warily. He was aware of her past, her affiliation with that damn hanyou brother of Lord Sesshomaru's. Anyone who sided with Inuyasha, in Jaken's mind, was an enemy of his lord.

 

Rin watched Jaken with bated breath, praying that he'd agree to accompany the miko. Waiting here for Lord Sesshomaru was unbearable, not to mention unproductive.

 

“Well…” he began in a huff, when another sound of movement in the forest cut him off and brought their attention back to the surrounding area. Kikyo gripped her staff tightly and noticed Jaken do the same with his weapon.

 

A fluttering inside her empty chest swept her when Inuyasha came crashing through the treetops into the clearing. He carried himself with an air of self assurance that she deeply admired, though this morning, he looked frantic.

 

Flying above, the monk was sitting behind the demon slayer atop the large transformed youkai cat. His arms were laced firmly around the woman's waist. If Kikyo had the luxury of emotion, she'd have to claim envy at seeing a man hold a woman that way…he'd held her that way before…

 

Jaken snarled at Inuyasha. “ Where is my Lord Sesshomaru!? You miserable hanyou!”

 

Inuyasha's fist left a large bump on the top of his brother's servant's head.

 

“Shut up!” he shouted, then immediately turned his attention to Kikyo. Somewhere in the pit of his stomach, he felt a sleeping dragon roar.

 

“Kikyo, I need your help.”

 

She narrowed her eyes at him. Inuyasha was more agitated than she'd seen him in a long time. Whatever had transpired with the Shikon no Tama must've involved Inuyasha. Her soulless body tried to flush at the idea of him searching her out, seeking her advice…that and the fact that Kagome wasn't trailing behind him…

 

Inuyasha wasted no time and hastily explained to Kikyo what had happened just a few short hours ago, of Sesshomaru and Kagome disappearing in what they believed to be some kind of time shift. Jaken and Rin both gasped in horror at this.

 

Kikyo listened calmly to his anxious plea for her to accompany them to the Southern Shrine and reopen the barrier in time.

 

Was fate playing into her hands? Was she worthy enough to be faced with this kind of opportunity?

 

She shook her head sadly. “I will help you open the barrier to retrieve Sesshomaru and reunite him with his wards, however,” she sighed before continuing, “I will not bring Kagome back through. She is not of this time. She is home and now that she has fulfilled her destiny, she shall remain there.”

 

Inuyasha blanched at the invisible blow that she had just knocked into his stomach…

 

 

 

 

Authors Note: A reminder that I don't own Inuyasha, I only wish I did. Also, I love to get constructive reviews, so please let me know what you think! Thanks for reading…